About

Event Horizon Larp

$51,864

pledged of $43,500 goal

120

backers

A galaxy on the edge of chaos. Ancient ruins to explore. Dark powers to confront. A new colony on a strange world. Come find out what awaits beyond the horizon!

For one weekend, leave your life behind and join us in a new galaxy of adventure inspired by your favorite sci-fi movies, novels, TV shows, and games. Live Action Roleplaying (larping) is like improv theater with no audience, or like a movie where everyone gets to be a central character. There’s no script, but there are costumes, play-safe weapons, elaborate sets, and plenty of action-packed drama!

The game will take place April 7th-10th in the Marin Headlands, just north of San Francisco, California. 150 tickets are available for that first run; if we sell out, we’ll open up tickets for more weekends. We provide a custom-written character concept, weapons, and high quality scenic design. You bring yourself, ready for adventure, and decide the fate of the galaxy through your choices. We’re building Event Horizon to be fun and rewarding for experienced larpers, those eager for their first trip to another world, and everyone in between.

WHAT IS LARP?

We’re big fans of the idea that larping (live action roleplaying) can be for anybody and everybody, and our game is designed to be both inclusive and easy to learn. Event Horizon will be light on mechanics, with no complicated rules or numbers to memorize, instead focusing on immersion and character interaction.

Our style of larp was created by Brian Allison and Howard Moody over thirty years ago. The Adventure Game, as they called it, has been refined by our partners the Wayfinder Experience over the past decade and a half. Event Horizon is calling this style Integrated Larp.

Integrated larp balances story, emotion, and mechanics while emphasizing collaboration and community building. Our focus is on player empowerment, character and world immersion, play-to-lose conflicts, and creating dynamic stories. ​ Every player gets a character backstory to serve as the jumping off point for building relationships and setting up drama. Once the game starts, everything is up to you. We’ll be throwing plenty of excitement, danger, and plot into the mix, but it’s your choices that will determine the end of the story – and the fate of the galaxy!

Many add-ons are also available, like a sword you can keep and handmade costuming. Full details below! If we reach our stretch goal of $49,000, every player will also get a touchscreen communicator to use for the weekend.

OUR SETTING

Twenty years after the end of the Homeworld War, the galaxy is once again poised on the brink of chaos. Fledgling governments fight for control while scoundrels and smugglers dart through the shadows. Archaeologists explore ancient temples, backed by corporations hoping to unlock the secrets of long-lost technologies. The founding of a new colony could mean a chance at peace, or it could be the spark that reignites the flames of war. The choices of the first to arrive on Phaelos III will shape the future of the galaxy!

Choose to be from any of the six Homeworlds--

Baryos, birthplace of galactic civilization, a beautiful planet watched over by the Titans, millennia-old machines the size of mountains.

Agerre, a harsh rocky world whose inhabitants live out their lives in caves, hiding from the burning sun.

Zé, a world where the nobility live on clear mountain peaks, while their servants eke out a fragile life at the edge of the toxic fog that fills the lowlands.

Gyr, a world of shallow seas with a thousand islands, turned to molten lava during the Homeworld War.

Dor Len Sono, a flat world of farmlands and philosophers, struggling with cultural clashes and economic collapse in the wake of the war.

Ottsalia, cultural capital of the galaxy, home to a constantly evolving biosphere, wild art movements, and cutting edge genetic engineering.

If none of those catch your interest, you might be from any of a hundred colony worlds, representing the frontiers of human civilization.

When the Kickstarter closes, we’ll send you a survey about what kind of character you want to play and what you hope to get out of the game. Based on your responses, we write you a customized character concept, with a backstory, relationships with other characters, and goals to accomplish in game. Most players will be part of a small group--a research team, the crew of a starship, a political party, or something along those lines. Using your character as a jumping off point, you’ll spend the months leading up to game fleshing out the character, putting together your costume, and getting to know your fellow players online.

Everyone arrives onsite Friday at noon, and spends the first day doing out of character workshops to help prepare. You’ll get a chance to practice with our swords, do some improv theater, and develop backstory connections with fellow players. If you didn’t have time to develop your character before game (we all have busy lives!), you’ll have an opportunity to do so. You can also stop by our costume room to rent a cool piece of costuming for the weekend. After dinner, everyone gets in costume and the game begins! The game continues all through Saturday and Sunday. You do whatever you think your character would do as everyone works together to try to establish a new colony. There will be drama along the way, of course, and plenty of surprises. The game ends with a grand finale Sunday evening, followed by a huge party. On Monday morning, there will be structured debriefs to help you prepare to ease back into your real life before we depart at noon!

LOCATION

​We're thrilled to be hosting Event Horizon at the NatureBridge retreat center in the Marin Headlands, just north of San Francisco. It's a 45-minute drive from San Francisco International Airport, and is easily accessible through public transportation. The Marin Headlands will serve as a spectacularly beautiful backdrop for our adventure. There are towering cliffs, a beautiful lagoon, a lighthouse, numerous fully-explorable ruins of WWII bunkers and gun emplacements, and much more. Players will sleep in the dorms at NatureBridge, with both open-plan and semiprivate rooms available. We'll be eating together in NatureBridge's world-class dining hall, with plenty of vegan, gluten-free, and other food options available. Food and housing will all be included in the ticket price.

EVENT HORIZON COMMUNICATOR

Our first stretch goal is the EH Communicator, a tablet with a custom program designed by our Tech Team. Each player will receive a communicator to borrow for the event and will be able to send messages to fellow characters, check galactic news, translate ancient runes, and more! The communicator is fully integrated into the world of Event Horizon, allowing our players to engage with communicative technology without breaking immersion by simply using an app on contemporary phones.

To reach this goal, we need to reach at least $49,000. Help us bring this immersive technology to our game!

THE CREW

The Directors of Event Horizon have a combined 25+ years of experience playing, organizing, and creating larps.

PLEDGE LEVELS AND ADD-ONS

Many of our Kickstarter rewards, such as costumes and weapons, are meant to go along with a ticket purchase. For these rewards (marked as Add-Ons), just add the price of the item to your pledge amount when you back the campaign. Later we’ll send out a survey, and you can make note of which add-ons you selected. You need to select the actual ticket as your main reward, though! If you don’t, you won’t have a ticket.

Ticket rewards:

LIGHTNING LARP TICKET - $400

This discounted ticket includes lodging and catering at our location, a custom character, and use of our vibroswords at the event.

STANDARD TICKET - $450

Included in this ticket is lodging and catering at the Marin Headlands, a custom character, and use of vibrosword during the event.
What the cost of the ticket goes to:

$280 lodging and food (62%)

$36-45 (8-10%) Kickstarter fees

$45 (10%) production

$36 (8%) staff lodging

$54 (12%) staff pay

GEMINI TICKETS - $1,200

This package includes two tickets and a private room for you and your partner in crime! Like a standard ticket, this includes lodging, food, two custom characters, and access to our vibroswords.

ORION PACKAGE - $2400

This package includes four tickets and a private room for you and your friends. Like a standard ticket, this includes lodging, food, four custom characters, and access to our Vibroswords.

A GOOD CREW AND A SHIP THAT FLIES - $6,750

You and up to nine friends get to play a charming crew of vagabonds from an independent vessel. This package includes up to ten characters, two private rooms, a digital model of your ship, custom crew logo and patches, and bonus data and props.

SUPERNOVA TICKET - $5,000

You’re the real star! Backing at this level gets you one ticket to this and every future Event Horizon game. You’ll get advance updates about our future plans and scheduling, special behind-the-scenes information on what we’re up to, and more. Includes a custom sword and cloak.

Add-on rewards:

CHARACTER COMMISSIONS - $40

Get a portrait of your Event Horizon character, or a roleplay character of your choice, drawn by Quinn Milton, concept artist and brand director! This is a perfect companion to your ticket if you want to treat yourself when you get your character, or as a way to support the campaign if you are not a participant.

SPECIAL DELIVERY - $100

Receive an in-game package filled with loot, classified data, snacks, and other treats. If you cannot participate, this is a great way to support a friend's game from afar. Add-on ready, or buy for a friend!

CUSTOM VIBROSWORD - $75

Receive a custom-designed vibrosword and utility sheath to keep after the event. Add-on ready!

STARFARER TUNIC - $60

Starfarer Tunic Design

Receive a futuristic tunic designed by Vex Fashion. The tunic is the perfect base for your costume, and is size-adjustable. Add-on ready! The Starfarer Tunic is a long, sleeveless shirt with two side slits, a square neckline, and top-stitched geometric details. It is a loose-fitted garment, but will be made to your measurements! The tunic is made out of a synthetic suiting material and is grey.

STARFARER CLOAK - $150

Starfarer Cloak Design

The perfect outerwear for the practical colonist. The Starfarer Cloak, designed by Vex Fashion, has a hood, multiple pockets, and utility clips. Add-on ready! The Starfarer Cloak is an asymmetric design featuring three exterior pockets, a hood, and two closures. It will be made out of a medium to heavy fabric for structure and warmth. The Cloak will be made to your height and comes in three colors: black, tan, and grey-green.

PERSONAL NEMESIS - $200

You’ve got an enemy, set on doing whatever it takes to sabotage your new life on Phaelos III. We’ll design a unique archnemesis to fit your character, played by one of our NPCs, who will make trouble for you all weekend. They might be a rival archaeologist, a bounty hunter on your trail, or something even more sinister!

Remote rewards:

MESSAGE IN AN INTERPLANETARY BOTTLE - $75
Can’t make it to game? Send a video message to someone who is! We’ll work with you to write and record a short video that will be delivered to a character during game, full of dramatic revelations from their friends or family offworld!

I'M THE BOSS - $250

Can’t make it to the game, but still want to be a part of the action? For around half the price of a ticket, you can be a part of the action from the comfort of your own living room. Whether you are the CEO of a megacorp, a galactic criminal, a star fleet general, or a political figure, your intel and orders will influence the game. You will receive a character sheet, and a plot all of your own. You will communicate with your allies and minions through messages a few times a day as you direct them to carry out your will in game. (Requires internet connection and webcam enabled computer, can play synchronously or asynchronously)

Playing the Mob Boss: What good universe is complete with its criminal underworld? The galaxy might not know your name, but they’ll sure feel the impacts of your power as you send out minions and bounty hunters. Potential plot points include trying to steal ancient artifacts, blackmailing a politician, or collect on old debts from other players.

Playing the Benefactor: As the money behind one of the expeditions, you don’t need to travel to a backwater planet to make a difference. Potential plot points include tracking down a lost relative, sending your allies/employees after artifacts of legendary power, or gaining enough political power to improve your status at home.

STRETCH GOALS

Event Horizon Communicator - $49,000

All of our participants will receive a tablet with a custom communications program to use for the event.

Second Weekend April 14th - 17th

If we sell out tickets and there is still sufficient interest, we will open ticket purchase for a second run of Event Horizon. We already have the following weekend oh hold with Nature Bridge.

Risks and challenges

Running a larp of any size has plenty of challenges, from logistics and weather to handling out-of-game conflict. A game of this scale has even more challenges, especially when it comes to the level of production we plan to achieve. Between now and the event in April, we will have to write character backstories for all participants, facilitate pre-game participant interaction, write a Player's Guide, organize Non Player Characters, build props, and dress the scenes for the colony. There's a lot to do, but we have six months, and will have a team of experienced larpers to help write this content.

An additional challenge is that not all of our Crew lives near the play location (although we do have secure housing there). Ideally, several of our Crew Mates could take time off in March and April to dedicate solely to Event Horizon. However, life can get in the way, so we might not have all hands on deck 2-3 weeks proceeding the event. This will not prevent us from running the event, but will create a time-crunch to get all materials to the play area and set up scenes.

We’re assuming there will be plenty of unexpected issues along the way, because no larp is without its surprises, but we’re confident in our ability to roll with the punches and find creative solutions. Our team has decades of combined experience writing and running larps, from games with five players to well over a hundred. We’re also in active contact with other larp organizers from around the world, and are never too proud to ask for their advice and help when we need it.

Support

Select this reward

Pledge $10 or more
About $10

Honorary Crew Mate

Thank you for donating to help make this event possible! Even if you are not able to participate, every small donation helps us bring this world to reality. You will receive a thank you note from the Event Horizon Crew.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $40 or more
About $40

Character Commissions

Get a portrait of your Event Horizon character, or a roleplay character of your choice, drawn by one of our concept artists Quinn Milton! This is a perfect companion to your ticket if you want to treat yourself when you get your character backstory, or as a way to support the campaign if you are not a participant.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $75 or more
About $75

Message in an Interplanetary Bottle

Can’t make it to game? Send a video message to someone who is! We’ll work with you to write and record a short video that will be delivered to a character during game, full of dramatic revelations from their friends or family offworld!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

Starfarer Cloak

The perfect outerwear for the practical colonist. The Starfarer Cloak, designed by our costuming director Sadia Bies, has a hood, multiple pockets, and utility clips. It is custom fit and comes in Black, Tan, and Grey-Green. Add-on ready!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

Personal Nemesis

You’ve got an enemy, set on doing whatever it takes to sabotage your new life on Phaelos III. We’ll design a unique archnemesis to fit your character, played by one of our NPCs (non-player characters), who will make trouble for you all weekend. They might be a rival archaeologist, a bounty hunter on your trail, or something even more sinister! Your enemy will create challenges and conflicts specifically for you.

Note: This is not a ticket and must be an "add on" to your ticket, or bought for another participant.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 240 or more
About US$ 240

I'm the Boss

Can't make it to the game, but still want to be a part of the action? For around half the price of a ticket, you can be a part of the action from the comfort of your own living room. Support the game from afar by playing the head of a powerful faction. Whether you are the CEO of a MegaCorp, a galactic criminal, a star fleet general, or a political figure, your intel and orders will influence the game. This pledge includes a character, plot of your own, 6 video messages to send and receive, and limited messaging to your agents on the ground. (Requires internet connection and webcam enabled computer, can play synchronously or asynchronously)

Playing the Mob Boss: What good universe is complete with its criminal underworld? The galaxy might not know your name, but they’ll sure feel the impacts of your power as you send out minions and bounty hunters. Potential plot points include trying to steal ancient artifacts, blackmailing a politician, or collect on old debts from other players.

Playing the Benefactor: As the money behind one of the expeditions, you don’t need to travel to a backwater planet to make a difference. Potential plot points include tracking down a lost relative, sending your allies/employees after artifacts of legendary power, or gaining enough political power to improve your status at home.

Playing the CEO: Money rules the star system, and you have enough of it to constitute a large government. Potential plot points include assigning your employees to gain mining and trade contracts, acquire ancient artifacts, and building utilities for the colony in your company's name.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $400 or more
About $400

Lightning Larp Ticket

For the early birds, a cheaper larp ticket featuring everything in the Standard Ticket.
• The opportunity to play in a new sci-fi universe for a full weekend.
• Workshops and training to help you prepare.
• A custom-written character backstory.
• A comfortable bed in the bunks at NatureBridge.
• Eight catered meals (dinner Friday, breakfast, lunch, and dinner Saturday and Sunday, and breakfast Monday).
• A weapon to use for the weekend.
Come join the adventure, and help create the first colony on Phaelos III!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $450 or more
About $450

Standard Larp Ticket

Come join the adventure, and help create the first colony on Phaelos III! The Standard Ticket Includes:
• The opportunity to play in a new sci-fi universe for a full weekend.
• Workshops and training to help you prepare.
• A custom-written character backstory.
• A comfortable bed in the bunks at NatureBridge.
• Eight catered meals (dinner Friday, breakfast, lunch, and dinner Saturday and Sunday, and breakfast Monday).
• A weapon to use for the weekend.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $600 or more
About $600

A Space Of Your Own

Come join the adventure, and help create the first colony on Phaelos III! This is a ticket that gets you a private room all to yourself, and includes:
• The opportunity to play in a new sci-fi universe for a full weekend.
• Workshops and training to help you prepare.
• A custom-written character backstory.
• A comfortable bed in the bunks at NatureBridge.
• Eight catered meals (dinner Friday, breakfast, lunch, and dinner Saturday and Sunday, and breakfast Monday).
• A weapon to use for the weekend.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,200 or more
About $1,200

Gemini Tickets (2 Ticket Package)

This package includes two tickets and a private room for you and your partner in crime! Like a standard ticket, this includes:
• The opportunity to play in a new sci-fi universe for a full weekend.
• Workshops and training to help you prepare.
• Two custom-written character backstories.
• A private bunk room for two at NatureBridge.
• Eight catered meals (dinner Friday, breakfast, lunch, and dinner Saturday and Sunday, and breakfast Monday).
• Access to weapons for the weekend.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,400 or more
About $2,400

Orion Tickets (4 Ticket Package)

This package includes four tickets and a private room for you and your adventuring partners! Like a standard ticket, this includes:
• The opportunity to play in a new sci-fi universe for a full weekend.
• Workshops and training to help you prepare.
• Four custom-written character backstories.
• A private bunk room for four at NatureBridge.
• Eight catered meals (dinner Friday, breakfast, lunch, and dinner Saturday and Sunday, and breakfast Monday).
• Access to weapons for the weekend.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

Supernova Ticket

You’re the real star! Backing at this level gets you a ticket to this and every future Event Horizon game. You’ll get advance updates about our future plans and scheduling, special behind-the-scenes information on what we’re up to, and more. You’ll also get an additional character who’s a major politician that can make huge decisions shaping the ongoing future of the setting--both before this game and into future ones! This ticket includes everything in the Space Of Your Own private room ticket, plus a Special Delivery and a custom vibrosword.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $6,750 or more
About $6,750

A Good Crew and a Ship that Flies

You and up to 9 friends get to play a charming crew of vagabonds from an independent vessel. This package includes up to 10 characters, 2 private bunk rooms, a digital model of your ship, custom crew logo and patches, and bonus data and props. Whether through honest transport, or smuggling goods and information, you and your crew do whatever it takes to keep free and flying.